Our ‘Roots’ of Pentecostalism dates back to the years between 1901 and 1902 when a small group of believers in the Paynes Bay area in the parish of St. James, Barbados were mightily moved upon by the Holy Ghost. These brethren had no organized name, but were referred to as the ‘POWER PEOPLE’. In fact, it was years later that they understood that they were the forerunners of contemporary Pentecostalism. The phenomenon was so strange that its manifestations were officially and widely rejected by the conservative churchmen.

The small company was persecuted, excommunicated from the recognized church in the area, shunned in the community and finally imprisoned.

Among the small group known as the ‘POWER PEOPLE’ were two outspoken ladies name Isabella Nurse and Elizabeth Chandler. Isabella parents were so furious at their daughter’s religion that doors were slammed in Isabella’s face, her father ordered that no food was to be given from his provisions and he set up machinery for her excommunication from the Liturgical church at which the whole family worshipped. The minister at the church refused to baptize Isabella infant son.

One Sunday, the police moved in while they were having service and arrested several of them. Despite the several challenges of the earlier times and despite the struggles, this small group of believers continued to preach the gospel at every opportunity.

Some years later in 1917, a Minister from the Church of God in the United States by the name of E. L. Lyder visited the island and found a group of about fifty (50) persons being pastored by a minister whose name was James Joseph. At the invitation of E.L.Lyder, James Joseph was on his way to visit the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee when he was called home.

Communication was kept between the church left by James Joseph and the Church of God in Cleveland, but it was not until fifteen (15) years later in 1932 that a Rev. J. H. Ingram from the Church in Cleveland came to Barbados and organized fifteen (15) churches under the banner of ‘New Testament Church of God’.

The first four (4) churches in the organization were Sion Hill in St. James, Crab Hill and Durhams in St. Lucy and Eckstein in St. Michael. At a later date, the Bank Hall Church, under the leadership of Sis. Rosa B. Hawkins and the River Road Church under the leadership of Pastor C. N. Forde came into the organization. Others followed at a later date. Pastor J.H. Marshal who was the pastor at the Eckstein Church was the First National Overseer of the churches on the Island. He was seventy-five (75) years of age when he became Overseer. The Eckstein Church was then the Headquarters church. The first convention was held in January 1946.

The Church was incorporated in the Island by an Act of Parliament on the 30th December 1940. The leadership of the Church in Barbados was administered by expatriate ministers from Cleveland, Tennessee, USA, ably assisted by a team of Ordained Ministers functioning as the National Executive Council. This mode of administration continued up to the end of 1971.

In 1972, the gavel of leadership was handed over to Rev. Ezra Chandler, who acted as interim Overseer until the Overseer designate; Rev. Frank G. Hinkson (a Barbadian National), took up office on the 1st September 1972. Rev. Frank G. Hinkson was succeeded by Rev. Lionel S. Mason in 1984, who was succeeded by Bishop Dr. Alvah Hunte in 1994,who was succeeded by Bishop Martin A. Brewster in 2006.

The General Church consists of forty-five (45) assemblies situated across the eleven parishes of the island.